Yummy, rich peanut butter cookie layers loaded with chunks of Reese's peanut butter cups, mini chocolate chips and a smooth cream cheese filling!! From one peanut butter lover to another, I think I got this one covered with these decadent layered Peanut Butter Reese's Cream Cheese Cookie Bars.
Would YOU turn peanut butter & Reese's Cup cookies enter-twined with cream cheese down? That would be a NOOOO...Hello? 🙂 Phat Pants, get ready to rumble!
I couldn't resist eating these like it was my last meal. I'm weak and sort of a dessert glutton for punishment kind of gal. That's why I post these goodies.
I could have easily eaten more, but I had Ultimate Banana Cake with Fluffy Nutella & Toffee Frosting I was snacking on too, and between the two desserts, battling for my attention, something had to give. And...I...ate...too...much! Voila, Phat Pants!
After about 3 days of torture, pretending that I wasn't sneaking bites during commercials and whatever excuse I could come up with, I came to the conclusion that 'These sinful cookie bars' and I had to be separated for good, for awhile anyways. Except for the part, the out of sight out of mind part didn't work out very well. I still kept thinking about my new best peanut butter dessert friends in the land.
Also, if you want to switch it up a little, here's the recipe and if you want to try these Reese’s Peanut Butter Cream Cheese Cookie Bars. This uses the same recipe but we added M&M's to the top!
I kind of have a Peanut Butter addiction? 🙂
BTW...You need all 16 of these in your life!
Peanut Butter Reese's Cream Cheese Cookie Bars
Ingredients
Peanut Butter Reese's Cookie Dough
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- ⅓ teaspoon salt
- ⅔ cup unsalted butter softened
- ½ cup peanut butter
- ⅔ cup brown sugar
- ⅓ cup granulated sugar
- 1 large egg room temperature
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- ⅓ cup mini semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 20 to 30 mini Reese's Cups chopped up & divided into two groups
Cream Cheese Filling
- 8 oz . cream cheese softened
- ⅓ cup powdered sugar
- 1 egg at room temperature
- ½ teaspoon vanilla extract
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Peanut Butter Reese's Cookie Dough
- In a medium bowl, mix the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
- In another bowl, using mixer, beat the butter, peanut butter, and sugars, until smooth and fluffy.
- Add egg and vanilla extract and combine until mixed.
- Gradually add the flour mixture into the wet mixture mixing well after each addition.
- Cream cheese filling: In a medium bowl, beat together the cream cheese, egg, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth.
- Spread ⅔ of the cookie dough in the bottom of the 8-inch baking dish.
- Add one half of the Reese's cup, chopped on top of cookie dough.
Cream Cheese Filling
- Spread the cream cheese mixture over the dough/Reese's cup layer.
- Using your fingers, crumble the remaining dough over the top of the cream cheese layer.
- Add the other half of the Reese's cups, chopped and sprinkle the mini chocolate chips on top.
- Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes.
- Remove foil and bake for an additional 20-25 minutes, or until it is lightly browned on top and the cream-cheese layer is set.
- Cool on a wire rack. Cut and store leftover bars in refrigerator.
Sure that would be fine. 🙂
Can this be made ahead , and put in the freezer ? I like to make as much as I can before hand so the holidays aren’t spent in the kitchen.
You can use either one, but the tiny ones you don't have to unwrap, which I prefer to save time. Hope you enjoy!! Thank you Kathy!
Do u use the tiny Reese’s cup a or bite size miniatures? I want to make this awesomeness for thanksgiving!
Awesome! I hope you enjoy and I feel like we are kindred spirits because we both love to bake and the go-to dessert person. Happy Easter Lisa! xo
Kim, I found your recipe on pinterest and just had to try them. They look absolutely delicious and are in the oven right now.
I'm always the go-to dessert person because I love to bake. I know they will be a hit at our Family Easter Celebration.
Sincerely,
Lisa
It is below the recipe, but here you go:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees.
Peanut Butter Reese's Cookie Dough
In a medium bowl, mix the flour, baking soda, and salt. Set aside.
In another bowl, using mixer, beat the butter, peanut butter, and sugars, until smooth and fluffy.
Add egg and vanilla extract and combine until mixed.
Gradually add the flour mixture into the wet mixture mixing well after each addition.
Cream cheese filling: In a medium bowl, beat together the cream cheese, egg, powdered sugar, and vanilla until smooth.
Spread ⅔ of the cookie dough in the bottom of the 8-inch baking dish.
Add one half of the Reese's cup, chopped on top of cookie dough.
Cream Cheese Filling
Spread the cream cheese mixture over the dough/Reese's cup layer.
Using your fingers, crumble the remaining dough over the top of the cream cheese layer.
Add the other half of the Reese's cups, chopped and sprinkle the mini chocolate chips on top.
Cover with foil and bake for 20 minutes.
Remove foil and bake for an additional 20-25 minutes, or until it is lightly browned on top and the cream-cheese layer is set.
Cool on a wire rack. Cut and store leftover bars in refrigerator.
All I see are the ingredients. Where are the mixing and baking directions?
Thank you so much Lizzie! 🙂
Another fabulous looking dessert!! ???
Hi Jackie! So sorry I am just getting back with you, I was having some issues with the blog and couldn't respond to anyone! ugh...You can use an 8 inch or 9 inch baking pan. Thicker bars with the 8 inch pan 😉 Enjoy!
On what did u bake this scrumptious soundind dessert?
Jackie
Thank you Ashley! 🙂
Hi, these look awesome! Thanks for the recipe. 🙂 Pinned.
Hello Tanyia! Maybe you could use a buttercream frosting, Nutella, marshmallow creme, hot fudge, caramel, or some peanut butter? Just don't overbake the cookies...whatever you do. They are best underbaked a little, but not raw. 🙂 Hope that helps some. Happy baking dear!
So I know I'm one of very few . But I don't like cream cheese... Is there anything I could replace it with? This desert looks yummy .....and I wanna make it
Thanks Francine! I'm so glad you all enjoyed them! Love the dancing part. Had to read this to my husband, I was tickled pink! 😉 Glad you found the blog too!
Oh Kim,
All I can say is this recipe is exceptional! It is so delicious. I have now found my go to decadent piece of heaven!! A friend had a barbecue on the weekend and she asked me to bring a dessert and I made this ooey gooey deliciousness, this was a showstopper. It was neck and neck with the barbecue pork. People started dancing on the spot, that's how good these bars are. I was not aware of this website before but you now have another fan!! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Winnie! You are so sweet, and I think I ate your portion along with mine. 🙂 LOL!
Thanks Aida! I seriously like that motto too! Thanks so much for stopping by!
Kim,
These look so good! I'm a sucker for peanut butter cups - any time, anywhere! I love "Phat Pants, get ready to rumble"! I think that should be the motto for my life 🙂
There isn't one thing abouth this recipe that I don't LOVE! So yummy! Thank you for joining us at #purebloglove. We look forward to having you every Thursday night at 8 PM, EST through Sunday night. ~Cydnee
these are MOUTH_WATERING bars!
I loooove the combination of flavors, and.... I wish I could eat a few right now!!
Yum, Kim. I could be seriously addicted to this dessert! 🙂